@newHSmom is that a letter from UChicago to RD applicants that they want to interview? Or that they want to admit?
@uberdaddy, no, it was an unofficial offer for class 2022 to some RD applicants
@MaybeHarvard2022 @ARIVERA1 by email
New message in portal. Check it out.
Not sure it’s a one time thing. @watercurses reported getting one earlier in January.
My application checklist disappeared.
@MaybeHarvard2022, yep. Same.
And mow the message at the top says, “Thank you for checking on your application materials status! We have finished processing the material we have received from applicants. Early Decision II applicants will receive admissions decisions in mid-February, and Regular Decision applicants will receive admissions decisions in mid-March.“
:-SS
@booklady123 is there any reason behind it?
Honestly I have no idea. Sorry!
If you are referring to the checklist - once they are finished processing, all that stuff disappears. No biggie.
FYI - Chicago just posted that they are releasing ED2 decisions “late afternoon” on Thursday the 15th.
@booklady123 Sorry I didn’t respond earlier (having trouble keeping track of things - I have twins who together have 25 applications out!). She received her need based FA with her EA acceptance, but received the 10K merit scholarship notification later on 2/1. Her regional admissions counselor emailed her to let her know it was in her portal. We’re hoping maybe they will add a bit more when/if she is named NMF (fingers crossed). She really wants to go to UChi, but it is tough financially with 2 headed to college at the same time!!
I’m sorry, I guess I was asking what the merit scholarship was for, if not NMSF?
Also, omg twins going through this at the same time sounds like a LOT. I’m losing my mind wih just one. Thinking of you!
@booklady123 They don’t really say what it was for specifically. The letter says, “You have distinguished yourself as an amazing scholar and a driven and devoted individual. Based on your impressive academic accomplishments and intellectual potential, you have been selected as a University Scholar.” One thing we did was let them know that UChi is her first choice. Don’t know if that helped push her over the top for a scholarsip. $10K/yr is great, but it’s still very pricey. This is going to he a tough decision from a $$$ perspective. Still waiting to hear from most other schools (but UChi is her dream).
That’s fantastic, good for her. She sounds like an amazing student and they really want her! I wasn’t aware that they had much merit money to offer, above the need based aid. That gives me hope! And thanks for sharing the info. ;
@booklady123 Thanks for the kind words. I hope your son gets good news on 2/15. Keep us posted. Maybe we will meet at accepted student day in April or parent orientation in the fall. 
I sure hope so! :-SS
Kathy V - we have THREE in college at the same time so D17’s need-based FA package from UChicago was pretty good. In your D’s case, you might look at what 2nd choice is/will be offering, get back in touch with UChicago and ask them to meet you part-way between the two.
@booklady123 - they DO have merit aid available - for the EA-accepteds Those kids are non-binding and are typically considering other top schools (else they would have applied ED). ED kids who are NMF will be eligible for UChicago’s College Sponsored awards, of course, but nothing merit-based from the College itself.
As recently as the Class of 2020 this was a tad different. Just speculation here but they seemed to have reconfigured their available funds* to conform to the admission plans. Those kids who are willing/able to commit to UChicago up front in a binding application are signalling that they are looking at factors other than price in their option for UChicago, so are willing to pay up to their expected contribution in order to attend. Those applying non-binding, on the other hand, are signalling that they may be looking at “best price” in order to attend. UChicago will admit the best from both types and use a combination of merit and, if applicable, need-based, to attract the latter. The former won’t need anything more than need-based (if applicable).
- Evidence is that they cut off the $4,000 / year merit guarantee to attract NMF's. Why provide that if the NMF is applying ED? Which they must have been doing since the College changed this award mid-cycle last year!!!! Now all NMF's are eligible for the standard College-Sponsored amount (up to $2,000/yr) but no more. The additional funds have no doubt been re-purposed to addition merit aid for attracting talented non-binding admits (NMF or non) or to provide additional need-based to eligible families who applied for it.
Kathy V - forgot to add something to the suggestion above: If she will enroll immediately upon getting a sufficient amount of merit/need-based, let them know that. If they believe you that financial is the only thing keeping her from a commitment, then they might just pull through. This doesn’t mean she won’t commit eventually anyway so don’t worry about that. But telling them she’ll commit TODAY might give them the extra motivation to toss a bit more her way 
Thanks, @JBStillFlying - this is what I was guessing. Offering another 10k to a really desirable EA admit who hasn’t committed seems like a “can we sweeten the pot?” kind of move. It sounds like KathyV’s daughter has some good options to compare, which is awesome.
In our case, if he can just get in we will be MORE than grateful for them to meet our EFC number. SOOO many schools don’t come anywhere close to that, so we will be grateful just to be able to afford to get him there. We’ll kill ourselves to the meet the EFC. It’s worth it.